New Pathways for Internationally-Trained Doctors: What the December 2024 IRCC Update Means

On December 8, 2024, IRCC announced some big changes to help bring more physicians to Canada. If you’re a doctor planning to move here or already working in Canada, these updates could speed up your immigration timeline considerably.

Here’s what changed, who can benefit, and what you need to do next.

What Changed: Three New Priority Measures for Physicians

IRCC rolled out three focused measures to attract and keep doctors across Canada. The goal is simple: reduce wait times, help provinces fill vacancies, and create clearer paths to permanent residence for physicians with Canadian work experience.

1. A New Express Entry Category for Doctors with Canadian Work Experience

IRCC is launching a dedicated Express Entry stream specifically for physicians who’ve worked in Canada for at least 12 months in the last three years. This stream targets medical professionals already integrated into the Canadian health system.

Invitations are expected to start going out in early 2026.

What you need:

• At least 12 months of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) Canadian work experience within the last 3 years
• Work in eligible medical occupations (family physicians, general practitioners, specialist physicians)
• Employment with a Canadian hospital, clinic, or health authority

2. 5,000 Reserved PR Spots for Provincially-Nominated Doctors

The federal government is setting aside 5,000 additional permanent residence spots specifically for doctors nominated by provinces. This is on top of regular immigration allocations.

Provinces will nominate candidates based on their own priorities, which typically include rural needs, specialty shortages, and clinical readiness.

3. Expedited Work Permits for Practice-Ready Physicians

Here’s where things get interesting: provincially-nominated physicians who are deemed practice-ready can now get work permits processed in as little as 14 days. This means you can start working while your PR application is still being processed.

That’s a significant reduction from typical processing times.

Who Qualifies for These New Pathways?

Eligibility varies depending on which pathway you’re applying through. Here’s what you need to know:

Express Entry Stream (For Doctors with Canadian Experience)

Work experience: You need at least 12 months of continuous full-time work in Canada within the past 3 years. Part-time work counts if it adds up to the equivalent.

Occupation: You must work in an eligible physician role as defined by IRCC. This includes family physicians, general practitioners, specialist physicians, and clinical/laboratory specialists. Check the current NOC/TEER codes to confirm.

Language: You need to meet the required English or French language benchmarks for medical professionals.

Licensing: While you may not need full provincial licensing for the Express Entry invitation itself, most provinces will require at least provisional licensing or eligibility to practice once you move.

Provincial Nominations (5,000 Reserved Seats)

Job offer: Most provinces expect a valid job offer or signed commitment from a health authority.

Provincial licensing: You need to be practice-ready under provincial licensing rules. This may include supervised practice or completion of bridging programs.

Selection criteria: Each province uses its own priorities. Rural areas, specialty shortages, language skills, and clinical readiness often factor into decisions.

Expedited Work Permits

Who’s eligible: Only provincially-nominated doctors who meet practice-ready requirements.

Processing time: IRCC is targeting turnaround times as fast as 14 days for eligible applications.

What you need: Complete documentation including your provincial nomination letter, job offer, proof of credentials and verification, and identity documents.

Expected Timelines

Here’s what you can realistically expect based on the announcement and typical IRCC processing patterns:

Express Entry invitations: The physician stream is expected to launch in early 2026. Once you receive an invitation, PR processing typically follows IRCC’s 6-month standard for complete applications.

Provincial nominations: Provinces will issue nominations in phases. Timing depends on each province’s intake plans and how quickly they can verify clinical readiness.

Expedited work permits: If you’re a nominated physician, you could receive your work permit in as little as 14 days from submission, provided all documentation is complete.

What This Means for You

These changes reduce uncertainty and create faster pathways to both work and permanent residence. For doctors already in Canada, the new Express Entry stream recognizes your integration into the health system. For those coming from abroad, provincial nominations and expedited work permits mean you can start working sooner.

For Canada’s health systems, these measures help provinces fill urgent vacancies and retain physicians long-term.

Important note: These changes target physicians specifically. Nurses and other healthcare workers should look into different programs or separate provincial initiatives.

Your Next Steps: A Practical Checklist

If you’re a physician planning to move to Canada or already working here, here’s what to do:

1. Confirm your Canadian work experience: If applying through the new Express Entry stream, verify you have at least 12 months of continuous experience.
2. Secure a job offer: Get or maintain a valid offer from a Canadian employer or health authority.
3. Start provincial licensing checks early: Gather all your medical degrees, transcripts, exam results (MCCQE, NAC OSCE equivalency if required), and references now.
4. Prepare language test results: Take the IELTS, CLB, CELPIP, or TEF (for French) and verify you meet the required scores.
5. Organize employment documentation: Keep all employer verification letters, pay stubs, and employment contracts ready to prove continuous employment.
6. Contact provinces actively recruiting: Rural and underserved regions often have expedited pipelines and urgent needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who exactly qualifies for the new physician Express Entry stream?

Doctors with at least 12 months of continuous Canadian work experience in eligible physician occupations within the last three years, who also meet language and admissibility requirements.

Will the 5,000 reserved PR spots be enough?

The 5,000 seats are an extra pool to help provinces address pressing shortages. Demand will likely exceed supply, so early provincial engagement and being practice-ready are important.

Does expedited processing guarantee approval in 14 days?

IRCC aims to process eligible files in about 14 days, but approvals still depend on complete documentation, admissibility checks, and any required medical or security clearances.

Can nurses or other health workers use these pathways?

Not these specific ones. These measures target physicians. Other health professionals should check different programs like PNPs, regular Express Entry streams, or healthcare pilot projects. Many provinces have nurse-focused pathways as well.

Why This Matters Now

This announcement represents a significant, targeted effort to bring more physicians to Canada faster and with clearer routes to permanent residence. If you’re a physician with Canadian experience or have been offered a role by a province, these changes could improve your immigration timeline considerably.

The key is to start preparing now. Get your documentation in order, engage with provinces early, and stay informed about application dates and requirements.